A rendering of a proposed mixed-use development showing the market view at Hemisfair. Local developer Zachry Corp.’s $200 million mixed-use project at Hemisfair is designed to feel new while evoking San Antonio’s 300-year architectural history. The Historic and Design Review Commission unanimously voted to grant initial approval to the developer’s plan to build a 14-story hotel, an eight-story office tower and a food market on Alamo Street at Hemisfair’s northwest corner, surrounding Civic Park, a planned nine-acre public park. less

A rendering of a proposed mixed-use development showing the market view at Hemisfair. Local developer Zachry Corp.’s $200 million mixed-use project at Hemisfair is designed to feel new while evoking San ... more

Photo: /Rendering Courtesy Of Zachry Corporation

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Renderings show San Antonio developer Zachary Corp.'s first designs for a $200 million mixed-use project at the Hemisfair.

Renderings show San Antonio developer Zachary Corp.'s first designs for a $200 million mixed-use project at the Hemisfair.

Photo: Courtesy, Zachry

Image 3 of 23

Renderings show San Antonio developer Zachary Corp.'s first designs for a $200 million mixed-use project at the Hemisfair.

Renderings show San Antonio developer Zachary Corp.'s first designs for a $200 million mixed-use project at the Hemisfair.

Photo: Courtesy, Zachry

Image 4 of 23

Renderings show San Antonio developer Zachary Corp.'s first designs for a $200 million mixed-use project at the Hemisfair.

Renderings show San Antonio developer Zachary Corp.'s first designs for a $200 million mixed-use project at the Hemisfair.

Photo: Courtesy, Zachry

Image 5 of 23

Image 6 of 23

Renderings show San Antonio developer Zachary Corp.'s first designs for a $200 million mixed-use project at the Hemisfair.

Renderings show San Antonio developer Zachary Corp.'s first designs for a $200 million mixed-use project at the Hemisfair.

Photo: Courtesy, Zachry

Image 7 of 23

Click ahead to view current projects underway in downtown San Antonio.

The Alamo master plan$450 million

This rendering shows the appearance of Alamo Plaza under a master plan that would include an interpretation of the south wall and historic main gate of the mission and 1836 battle compound, made of structural glass. Other features include a 135,000-square-foot museum; historic footings of the historic walls displayed under structural glass; and interpretation of an acequia, or water canal, on the west end of the plaza.

Zachry will have to return to HDRC at a later meeting for final approval. Other parts of the $200 million project, including an apartment complex that national developer NRP plans to build on Market Street, are still being designed and will go before the commission later.

“Obviously it’s a very well thought-out design,” commission member Joel Garcia said. “I like the fact that it’s very inclusive of the public in general, of native San Antonians, visitors, guests … It’s very open and very inviting to everybody.”

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The project, designed by local firm Overland Partners, includes passageways through the buildings that link Civic Park with exterior streets and offer views of local landmarks such as the Tower Life Building. Overland designed it to feel modern while evoking San Antonio’s history with vaulted colonnades and symbols such as the quatrefoil, seen on Mission San Jose and the city’s logo, the firm’s principal Robert Shemwell said last week.

The project is expected to break ground by late this summer and to finish in early 2021.

Four local residents spoke against the project, with some of them saying they felt it violated the lands of indigenous peoples.

One speaker, Gilbert Martinez, criticized the presence of a hotel in the project and called it a “nice little corporate park for (Zachry’s) corporate friends.”

“The entire downtown area has been gentrified over the ‘Decade of Downtown,’” he said, referring to former Mayor Julián Castro’s initiative to build up downtown. “This is an opportunity with a new mayor, a new administration; we’re moving toward equity. What’s equitable about a corporate park? We’re not getting a Central Park, we’re getting a corporate park.”

Zachry Corp. prevailed over 10 other bidders to develop the site, which sits at downtown’s busiest intersection.

Turn to Thursday’s Business section or click here to read the full article on ExpressNews.com.